Research paper
Evidence for dual components in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic relaxation in the rat gastric fundus: Role of endogenous nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1838(92)90039-JGet rights and content

Abstract

The effects of trypsin and arginine analogues, alone or in combination, on half-maximal non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxation elicited by different pulse trains of electrical field stimulation were studied in the rat gastric fundus in order to investigate further the relative contribution of peptides and NO. Trypsin (1 μM) partially inhibited electrically-induced NANC relaxation especially when longer pulse trains were used. l-NOARG, l-NAME and l-NMMA, but not d-NOARG or d-NAME (3–300 μM) produced concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically induced NANC relaxation. l-Arginine (l-Arg), but not d-Arginine (d-Arg) (3.8 μM-3.8 mM) produced a concentration-dependent reversal of the inhibitory effect of l-NOARG IC50 (38 μM). Neither l-NOARG (38 μM) nor l-Arg (380 μM) influence submaximal relaxation induced by VIP (3 μM), isopropylnoradrenaline (10 μM), ATP (10 μM) or sodium nitroprusside (300 μM). Moreover l-NOARG (100 μM) did not influence neurally-induced VIP release. l-NOARG inhibition of NANC relaxation was significant only when short pulse trains were used, while trypsin showed significant inhibition only of relaxation induced by longer pulse trains. These results suggest that the relaxation induced by the activation of the NANC inhibitory neurotransmission of the rat gastric fundus consists of at least two components, one trypsin-sensitive and the other trypsin-resistant, to which VIP and NO contribute, respectively.

References (32)

  • G. Burnstock

    Evidence that adenosine triphosphate or a related nucleotide is the transmitter substance released by non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (purinergic) inhibitory nerves

    Br. J. Pharmacol.

    (1970)
  • M. D'Amato et al.

    Is peptide histidine isoleucine an inhibitory nonadrenergic non-cholinergic neurotransmitter in the rat gastric fundus?

    Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn.

    (1990)
  • M. D'Amato et al.

    Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on the relaxation induced by non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nerve-stimulation in the rat gastric fundus

    Pharm. Res.

    (1992)
  • M. D'Amato et al.

    l-NG-nitro arginine partially inhibits non-adrenergic non-cholinergic relaxation in the rat gastric fundus

    Gastroenterology

    (1991)
  • F.A. De Beurme et al.

    Influence of chymotrypsin and trypsin on the non-adrenergic noncholinergic relaxation in the rat gastric fundus

    Br. J. Pharmacol.

    (1987)
  • F.A. De Beurme et al.

    Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as possible mediator of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic relaxation in the rat gastric fundus

    J. Pharm. Pharmacol.

    (1988)
  • Cited by (97)

    • Induction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase by sympathetic denervation is mediated via α2-adrenoceptors in the jejunal myenteric plexus

      2003, Brain Research
      Citation Excerpt :

      Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), a key enzyme responsible for the release of NO, has been detected in the myenteric plexus and in the central nervous system [1,5]. The release of NO causes relaxation of the smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract [4–6,8,28]. The rapid relaxation induced by NANC activation is antagonized by NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a NO biosynthesis inhibitor, in the small intestine [3,6].

    • Decreased expression of nitric oxide synthase in the colonic myenteric plexus of aged rats

      2000, Brain Research
      Citation Excerpt :

      In the rat and human, NOS-immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies and fibers have been detected throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract [1,4]. Stimulation of the myenteric plexus releases NO, which in turn produces relaxation of the smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract [3,4,6,7]. NO appears to play an important role in mediating descending relaxation in the rat colon, an essential component of the peristaltic reflex [13,14].

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text